When our hearts are purified, we can see God in new and beautiful ways. God's goodness surrounds us constantly, but we need the right lenses—purified hearts—to see it. Our hearts are not meant to be followed but purified, and this purification comes through God's Word and the fire of the Holy Spirit. As the Word of God enters our hearts and the Spirit of God works within us, we are cleansed, allowing us to see the ways of God's Kingdom and His goodness. When we surrender to God, letting His Word and Spirit purify us, the eyes of our hearts are opened, and we can truly see Him.

God's favor rests on those who show mercy, recognizing that the mercy Jesus calls us to is about the Light of Eternity (LOE) rather than Return on Investment (ROI). Being merciful starts with examining our own hearts and actions. Jesus’ call of mercy is bigger than something to do, it’s someone to be, and the world is desperate to experience.  We're called to be merciful, forgiving, and generous, with the Holy Spirit guiding us every step of the way.

In moments of emptiness, we often seek to fill the void with things that don’t truly satisfy. Instead of seeking identity and purpose in artificial things, Jesus calls us to pursue righteousness by living in a right relationship with God and avoiding self-righteousness and cultural influences. By embracing this authentic hunger, we not only fulfill our own needs but also become a light to the world, demonstrating the only genuine way to fill the void within us.

Jesus teaches that true discipleship involves living with submission, humility, and meekness. Meekness is not weakness but controlled strength, showing gentleness, wisdom, and peace. By submitting to God's way, we live in contentment now and look forward to reigning with Christ in the new heavens and earth. Embrace meekness, knowing it leads to true blessing and aligns us with the Kingdom of God.

Mourning is a natural and expected part of life. Psalms of lament teach us to express our sorrow and rely on God, transforming our grief into joy. By bringing our pain to God, persistently seeking His help, and praying with the cross in mind, we experience true comfort and a renewed heart, as God promised.

Sometimes as Christians, we feel the pressure to have it all together, but Jesus teaches us the importance of relying on Him. Being "poor in spirit" means recognizing our need for God, like using crutches when we can't walk on our own. It's about spiritual dependence, not independence. We must embrace our need for God and lean on Him, for this is where true strength and a taste of heaven begins.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaims the gospel as the good news that the upside down, inside-out Kingdom of God is here now, and seeking it leads to human flourishing. As disciples of Jesus, living out the ways of the Kingdom will bring it to earth by pursuing a way of blessing that is countercultural, counterintuitive, and distinct in posture, priorities, perspective, practices, and path.

To witness the extraordinary works of God in our lives, we must consistently practice our faith and follow His revealed guidance. As we draw closer to God, He will draw closer to us, fulfilling His promises in His perfect timing. Throughout this sermon, we are presented with 9 daily decisions to help deepen our faith.

Fasting provides spiritual nourishment from a heavenly source and gives us remarkable grace to handle whatever we face. Eating food we don’t know about means focusing on and living according to God's will and being nourished by His spirit. Hunger is a reminder of our need to be nourished. When hunger persists, it causes us to remember where real and lasting nourishment come from, which is God alone.

Join Allison and Dave as they explore the themes of operating in the opposite spirit, especially in home and work settings, and the importance of understanding spiritual realities in daily conflicts.

To watch this past week's sermon: Operating in the Opposite Spirit | Dave Buehring

For more info: northway.org